TVonDVD: Farscape: The Complete Series Megaset – They Breathe FIRE??? How Come No One Told Me They Breathe FIRE???

I have loved many TV programs in many genres, but there only a handful I’d want on a desert island: The Twilight Zone, Star Trek: The Original Series; Babylon 5; Firefly, and Farscape. Of the five, Farscape is easily the strangest, most totally wacked out – and therefore, the most fun.

Over its four season run, Farscape gave us the most unusual universe: a universe where dwelt sentient, perambulatory plants; living starships that could spawn offspring; two great villains, and so much more that just listing them could take pages.

Into this world comes John Crichton [Ben Browder], an astronaut/scientist whose experiment with using gravity to slingshot a space craft is interrupted by a wormhole. He emerges in the middle of a battle and is struck by one the ships, which spins out of control and crashes into an asteroid. His module is brought aboard a giant ship where he discovers that “Spielberg got it wrong” – and he’s stuck on a ship crewed by escaped prisoners! Thus begin the adventures of a lone human in a section of the universe that is teeming with different lifeforms.

Onboard with Crichton are: Ka D’Argo [Anthony Simcoe], a hot-headed young Luxan warrior; Rygel XVI [voiced by Jonathan Hardy], a small frog-like fellow – and the usurped Dominar of the Hynerian Empire; the blue-skinned Pa’u Zotoh Zhaan [Virginia Hey], a Delvian priestess and Pilot [voiced by Lani Tupu], a huge alien who is symbiotically linked to Moya, the living Leviathan ship. In the series premiere, this motley bunch is joined, unwillingly, by Peacekeeper Officer Aeryn Sun [Claudia Black]. During the first season, they are joined by the Nebari thief – and whirlwind of passions – Chiana [Gigi Edgley] and encounter the series’ signature villain, the reptilian Scorpius [Wayne Pygram] for the first time.

While the series is not, literally, seen from Crichton’s point of view [which would entail his having to be in every scene], it is definitely shown with his perspective in mind. The first season is all about his learning – and adapting to – the reality of life in this section of the universe, and his rapidly evolving relationship with Aeryn. The quote in this review’s title is a prime example, but I’ll let you have the joy of seeing how it comes into play. Crichton also has a habit of dispensing nicknames and making pop culture references – a nice touch which shows how we are all informed by all things media.

The second season finds Scorpius implanting a neural chip in Crichton’s brain – a device that, over the course of the season, drives him insane. One of the main characters dies – and another critical recurring character is born. Not only that, a major recurring character grows to inhabit a completely different point of view [and it’s done so well that it reads as completely honest and natural].

Season three finds the dead character resurrected, but at the cost of another main character’s life; Crichton is cloned; the neural chip is removed – but leaves a phantom remnant, and there are two more significant deaths. Another key recurring character, Jool [full name Joolushko Tunai Fenta Hovalis, played by Tammy Macintosh] joins the crew.

In the fourth season, Scorpius continues to plague Crichton both in the flesh and as “Harvey” – the phantom remnant of the neural clone and a new villain, in the person of Commander Grayza [Rebecca Riggs] is introduced – and her style is, shall we say… unusual? Also, we learn more about Scarran/Sebacean relations [or lack of same] and come to series’ final cliffhanger – a real doozy; fan reaction to which spawned a mini-series [not included here] to wrap up what would have been Farscape’s fifth and final season.

These brief season overviews do not begin to reflect the complexities of the show’s plots, sub-plots and character arcs – let alone those of the characters. They are, effectively, teasers for non-fans to get the basic idea of the wonders of the series.

Not only are the characters complicated, but Farscape was also a complex production which combined actors, animatronics and CG in combinations hitherto seen only in major motion pictures. Most of the creative personnel and crew had done extensive work in film – with the result that episodes of Farscape really do look like high quality film productions.

The design of the characters – from Zhaan’s blue make-up and floral markings to virtually all of the animatronic characters from Henson’s Creature Shop – are unlike anything seen before, in film or on TV. The Leviathan Moya is structured with curved, flowing organic lines, but is also very mechanistic. Rygel is the product of a civilization where amphibians evolved into sentient beings. The Sheyang look to be bipedal fish – but, as Crichton finds out, spit fire.

There are even design elements that reflect the art and philosophy of the former Soviet Union used to subtly hint at the nature of the Sebacean Empire long before we learn, for certain, what they are like. For all we know, at the beginning of the series, Crais might be a very extreme example of the Sebaceans, but these design elements strengthen our feeling that he may not be.

Then there’s Scorpius. While Captain Crais is the show’s first Big Bad, so to speak – and a thorn in Crichton’s side for the better part of two seasons – Scorpius is probably second only to Darth Vader in the annals of sci fi film and TV. He breaks all the rules and conventions, willing to play the willing slave if it’ll get him what he wants – capable of shredding an opponent’s mind like coleslaw if it advances his desire for revenge, or administering really unhealthy doses of physical and psychic pain.

The main reason Farscape has become elevated to such a high place on the lists of successful sci fi achievements is twofold: The creation of a groups of believable characters [for all their alien appearance] among which to place a human protagonist, and the seeming polar opposites in John Crichton and Scorpius.

Scorpius, with his veneer of civilization hiding [at first, anyway] depths of rage and evil to compare with the worst of the Sith, versus the rough-edged, charming bluster of Crichton – a bluster that in no way hides his joy, compassion and real civilization. Where Scorpius can be creative in his efforts to attain power to destroy, Crichton can be equally creative to be of help to his friends and, when he finds power, to use it to create, as well.

Then there’s the love story between Crichton and ex-Peacemaker [the Sebacean military] Aeryn Sun. Where she has been trained since birth to treat all emotions as distractions, he is an emotional volcano. Where she is a hardened military veteran, he is a scientist whose rank of Commander was earned by formulating the theory that led to his journey through that wormhole. She’s great at following orders and blowing stuff up; he’s great at creating and improvising. Ad yet, under all of their seemingly polar opposite qualities, they intrigue the heck out of each other.

The characters of Farscape – good and evil – change and grow in often surprising ways. The writers take off-the-wall chances that usually work really well [the chuck Jones tribute in Revenging Angel, for example], or fail spectacularly [see Jeremiah Crichton then listen to the episode commentary tracked – which subtitled “When Bad Things Happen to Good Shows”].

There’s a unique spirit of adventure and a willingness to go for it in Farscape that we don’t see in programming from the usual suspects that can be, at least in part, attributed to the show’s being produced in Australia. As sophisticated as it can be, Farscape also knows when to go to the “You fart helium?” gag and when to utilize a character’s explosive urination. Which is to say that Farscape is a show that frequently “takes the mickey” out of itself – not something you see every day in a dramatic production in any genre.

Of the handful of “desert island” shows I listed above, Farscape is the only one that is smart, funny, sexy, dramatic and relentlessly reaching for the metaphorical sky. It’s a series where you can see something new and different every time you screen it – and once you’ve seen it from beginning to end, subsequent screenings reveal how rich and thoughtful its creators were. I’ve seen every episode many times and I simply cannot get enough of this show.

There is a wealth of bonus features in the set. The problem is that there is no way to tell what’s on each disc until you actually place it in your player. An insert with that information would have been extremely helpful.

Features:

Season One:

Commentary for Premiere by series creator Rocker S. O’Bannon, executive producer Brian Henson and Ben Browder [John Crichton]; Commentary for I, ET, by Claudia Black [Aeryn Sun] and Anthony Simcoe [Ka D’Argo]; Commentary for Exodus From Genesis by Brian Henson and Virginia Hey [Zhaan]; commentary for Throne for a Loss by Ben Browder and Claudia Black; Commentary for Back and Back and Back to the Future by Ben Browder and director Rowan Woods; Commentary fir Thank God It’s Friday… Again by Rockne S. O’Bannon and Anthony Simcoe; Commentary for DNA Mad Scientist by Ben Browder and Claudia Black; Commentary for DNA Mad Scientist by Rockne S. O’Bannon and executive producer David Kemper; Commentary for Jeremiah Crichton – When Bad Things Happen to Good Shows by Ben Browder, Claudia Black, Rockne S. O’Bannon and David Kemper; Commentary for A Human Reaction by Ben Browder and Claudia Black; Commentary for Nerve by Ben Browder and Claudia black; Commentary for Bone to be wild by Ben Browder and Claudia Black; commentary for Bone to be wild by Rockne S. O’Bannon and David Kemper.

Featurettes: Making of a space Opera [title on box – title onscreen: The Farscape Effect: Behind the Scenes of a Cutting Edge Sci Fi show]; In the Beginning: A Look Back with Brian Henson; Farscape in the Raw – Director’s Cut Scenes: The Flax and Through the Looking Glass.

Although not listed as a feature, a number of Season One episodes are extended.

Season Two:

Re.Union [full episode]

Commentary for Crackers Don’t Matter by Claudia Black and director Ian Watson; Commentary for The Way We weren’t by Ben Browder and Claudia Black; Commentary for The Locket by Ben Browder and Claudia Black; Commentary for Die Me, dichotomy by Ben Browder, Claudia Black and David Kemper.

Deleted Scenes From: Mind the Body; Raking the Stone; Crackers Don’t Matter; Dream a Little Dream; Look for the Princess Part I: A Kiss is But a Kiss; Looking for the Princess Part III: The Maltese Crichton; Liars, Guns and Money Part II: With Friends Like These.

Bloopers

Farscape in the Raw – Director’s cut Scenes: Re.Union; Mind the Baby; Vitas Mortis; Taking the Stone; Crackers Don’t Matter; Picture If You Will; The Way We Weren’t; Home on the remains.

Season Three:

Commentary for Self-Inflicted wounds Part II: Wait for the Wheel by Claudia Black; Commentary for Eat Me by Guy Gross [composer]; Commentary for Green Eyed Monster by Ben Browder [writer]; Commentary for Relativity by Lani Tupu [Crais/Pilot] and director Peter Andrikidis; Commentary for The Choice by Claudia Black; Commentary for The Choice by director Rowan Woods and writer Justin Monjo; Commentary for Into the Lion’s den Part II: Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing by Rockne S. O’Bannon and David Kemper; Commentary for Dog with Two Bones by Ben Browder and Claudia Black.

Deleted Scenes: Season of Death; Thanks for sharing; Losing Time; Incubato; Scratch ‘n Sniff; Revenging Angel; The Choice; Fractures; Into the Lion’s Den Part I: Lambs to the Slaughter; Into the Lion’s Den Part II: Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing; Dog with Two Bones.

TV Promos: Season of Death; Suns and Lovers; Self-Inflicting Wounds Part I: Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda; Self-Inflicted Wounds Part II: Wait for the Wheel; …Different Destinations; Eat Me; Thanks for Sharing; Green Eyed Monster; Losing time, Relativity; Incubato; Meltdown; Scratch ‘n Sniff; Infinite Possibilities Part I: Daedalus Demands; Infinite Possibilities Part II: Icarus Abides; Revenging Angel; The choice; Fractures; Into the Lion’s Den Part I: Lambs to the slaughter; Into the Lion’s Den Part II: Wolf in Sheep’s clothing; Dog With Two Bones.

From the Archives: Guy Gross Discusses the Season Three Theme.

Behind the Scenes Interviews: Claudia Black [Aeryn]; Anthony Simcoe [D’Argo]; Ben Browder [Crichton]; Wayne Pygram [Scorpius/Harvey]; Gig Edgley [Chiana].

Season Four:

Commentary for John Quixote by Ben Browder and Claudia Black; Commentary for Kansas by Ben Browder, Claudia Black and David Kemper; Commentary for Bad Timing by Ben Browder, Claudia Black and David Kemper.

Deleted Scenes: Crichton Kicks; What Was Lost Part I: Sacrifice; Promises; Natural Election; Terra Firma; Twice Shy; Mental as Anything; Bringing Home the Beacon; A Constellation of Doubt; We’re So Screwed Part II: Hot to Katratski; Bad Timing.

Featurette: Farscape: The Story So Far; Inside Farscape: Dace Farscape; Villains; season four Visual Effects.

From the Archives: On the Last Day – Farscape Wrap Speech from David Kemper.

Bonus Discs: The Archives:

Disc One:

Featurette: Farscape “Undressed.”

“Listening In” with composer Guy Gross: The Way We Weren’t; My Three Crichtons; The Locket; Die Me, Dichotomy; Eat Me; Revenging Angel; The Choice; Into the Lion’s Den Part II: Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing; Crichton Kicks; John Quixote; Terra Firma; Bad Timing.

Disc Two:

Behind the Scenes Interviews: Anthony Simcoe [D’Argo]; Wayne Pygram [Scorpius/Harvey]; Jonathan Hardy [Voice of Rygel]; Rebecca Riggs [Grayza]; Lani John Tupu [Crais/Voice of Pilot]; David Franklin [Braca]; Paul Goddard [Stark].

Video Profiles: Creator/Executive Producer/Writer Rockne S. O’Bannon; Executive Producer/Writer David Kemper.

Zhaan Forever with Virginia Hey.

Grade: Farscape: The Complete Series – A+

Grade: Features – A+

Final Grade: A+